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BuyingOctober 31, 2017

How many homes should you look at before making an offer?

Looking for your perfect property can be an exciting experience. Once you’ve searched online and spoken to your local Guild Member about what you’re looking for, it’s time to start the viewings. But how many should you do before you make an offer? What if your first property seems perfect? Should you keep looking? Guild agents share their top tips.

Finding the perfect house on the first viewing – what do you do?

Steve Thompson from Thomas Morris said: “There are difficulties involved in finding what appears to be the perfect property very early in a search; many buyers will be concerned about taking the plunge when they haven’t had the opportunity to shop around and see how other properties compare.

“Not securing the perfect property however, could come back and haunt you if someone else secures it before you make a decision. So, if you fell its right – go for it! Getting out and viewing a range of properties early on will help to avoid this as it will help to ensure that the perfect property can be identified if it stands out from the crowd.”

“Trust your judgement – if it ticks all your boxes, why not go for it?” he asks. “What more are you hoping to find elsewhere? The rest might not match up. Go back for a second visit immediately with a friend or relative for another opinion and if it still excites, make an offer.”

Remember to do your homework before a viewing, says Zoe Hayle from Marshall’s, and there should be no doubt when you find the right home. “If you have done your homework and know the area you want to settle in, then when you find the perfect home you really should offer on it. There is a lack of properties coming to the market now, with many people trying to find one. If you don’t offer, someone else might and if you have missed your favourite then no other property will match up.”

How many viewing should you do per day?

Brian Carlisle from J R Hopper & Co has a recommended number of properties to view per day.

“View at least two or three homes, preferably with the same agent, on the same day. This allows you to compare and rank properties in terms of ticking the boxes and value. Don’t view more than five or six in a day. You will get exhausted and will not make rational decisions after too many viewings,” he advises.

“I do think it’s important that people get out and view a number of properties rather than trying to do their property shopping predominantly on the internet,” he said. “Properties and locations can look and feel very different in the flesh, and there is a risk of passing up an ideal home by discounting it without a visit.”

Make an offer

Brian Carlisle from J R Hopper & Co points out that it is acceptable to put an offer in on multiple properties.

“It is perfectly possible to place an offer on more than one property, providing you are happy to go ahead if any of those offers are accepted. Look at your very short list of properties you would buy at the right price. Decide what you are prepared to offer on each and make the offers. Make sure the agents know you are offering on other properties.”

Can you view too many homes?

Gina Burbidge from Royston & Lund says: “Before making an offer on a property, it is advisable to view as many as possible. Try and view a range of properties in the areas you are considering buying to compare as much as possible. Although you can’t view too many properties, if you see something you are interested in in a fast-moving market, it would be advisable to make an offer as soon as you could to ensure you don’t miss out.”

Kevan Wimborne from GBP Estates personally prefers to view fewer properties, but he understands that everyone is different. “By the time you have seen 20 – 30 properties, they begin to all seem similar. Then you possibly decide to ‘settle’ for a property which really wasn’t as good as the first one or second one you saw, but you now need to find something whilst you still have the will,” he jokes.

“The amount of properties you choose to look at really depends on yourself. You could look at hundreds of properties online on the properties portals, view loads through your local agents, but never find the one you have in your mind’s eye. Then again, you could get lucky when you find your dream home at your local Guild agent’s window, and it’s perfect when you view it.

“Don’t be afraid to look into things and ask loads of questions because it will be the largest purchase you might ever make. Remember it’s down to you and listen to the advice given to you by your agent.”